Index or file



Oct. 28, 1930. w. H. DAY 1,780,006

INDEX 0R FILE Filed July 27, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1f Oct. 28, 1930. w,DAY 1,780,006

INDEX 0R FILE Filed July 27, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented; Oct. 28,1930 WILLIAM: H21 vJamie, 0E :Eesm maven, eeNNEeTIeUT, ASSIGN OiR fBYMESNE ss-ten mEism-simm mmemqumnn me, or. NEWS YORK; 1v, Ygie"COR'BGRATIGN e1 DELA- WARE INDEX OR FILE hpplicati-bii filed m 271925;, Serial M4 336.

This imIentiQureIatestO indexes, files 01" in dicators of that type iiiWhich a; holder Or cal ri'er is employedl'te receive andniount a serieso-fioveriappiiigindex eke'm'entsj or rec'- ordf bearing rnemhersf of.the type generally i termed'fisihliihdexes; wherein am argin of 'thepur'p'ese of identification regarding the pert.

, ingly inserted iii a filing cabinet.

each card eftlieiii'dexiis exposed to iew for ilig, members; guides orretaining neansby, which the; record-bearing 'inemb'ei's are held inp'esiti'en thereon ,f and usually detachabl'y se,' whilethe'cam'ieisare" either swinging; 1y mounted-upon a supporting frame to ben1anipulatedisimflatlyto the leaves of a'hook, as shown in the U; S.patent to RJD'; Hayes;

in the form of a panel adapted to he "slid Holders of theabove ch'aiacterfhafve gen eraiiy been provided with?a fiange along the outer edgethereof, eithei to' act alone as a fin'ger grip orgas such a gxip jwhi'ljeat the-semetime covei'ing't'he side edges of the series of indexelements to protect theis'am'e from multilationorhingsoiledl This strlucture tended to increase the cost "of manufac turing; the holdersaslwelli asite increase the I amount ofio'omf iequired ifbr'a pluralityof such holders due' to the increased thickness of the same at thispeint;

In some" instances, the hoiders were con Se-meted: in such a-.inai1'ner' that-they lacked the necessar sti'if'riess frequifedt be properlyand effectively manipulated"; die to the support ten the fi eiitedgeofthe same: This was especially tiue*when1theii hblder was termed froma, single sheet at nietal whi ch merely had a beiit ovel edge"alongthejfroiit thereof" Thisrthinzedge was'alsb a disadvan v tage 'in thatthe eperat-hP-was not, ptovided with a meansiallowing afirm grip; uponthe edge; causing ithe-p0ssi'hi1ity that the fingers would 0ecasi-onailly slip therefrom and cause "eelayin'theuselthe reof. V

In other cases; these heiders Wei'e limited to 21: certainnumber-"0f"referehce bearing members mounted thereon, due to thenecessi-tyofprovi mg supporting earsat the lower edge of the same; theear beiiigfofsuch design and'a'ppliedfl iii" such a'inaunerthat acomparatively large amount of hoide'r s'ui face Was'not in use as anindexelementisup- 1 The principal object of this ihv entioiu therefore,is to pmvic'l'e ian impreve'd'index hblder e1" carrier of ab'eve type,which W111 he of such; construction and" cembin'a tlon and arrangementof the pal-ts thereof,

that the above mehtieneddisadvantages will be overcome Whileyretainingall of theafl vmitages, decreasing-"the cost of ji'uanufae' t'uife. andincreasing the efiic'jien'cj 'in' the'use 0fthesame- ,7 i Ailotherobject-pf this invention is'to' provide 21 carried fer iudex'elements ofthe aho'ile I Jvith zl'oj el' fl 'ame censtructien which properlystan'dtl1e"t Without becoming dist Ah'oth'er object of t'liis invention"is ftei so arrange the indexeleuientfi etaiuingmeens 'usedin the frameportio il'o-f' a'carrier of this type that-the in'dex elemeuts wiii be'prosuchiielders to "ajminimum.

Still another"ebjectefthis invent-i011- is to previ'de" index elehiefitsupporting means of novel construction hythe j useof which mere of fsuch elements may be mounted thereon than 'fermerljgtherebyincreasing-the pacity of 'the ii'ifldexas"awhelel' Stilt another (2015of thisihveiitiouis to provide ai'combi'netieriof a i'et'aiiiiiig meansi and a "sup'pertni'gi means for 'use 'withf SuCh,

type of 'helderjthat fth'e 1ml; ed 11? beeper- W1th' the frame to term}an efficient device of this "character Whereo- *iudex 'eieiuentsmay be"fe'adily applied; as readily removed, positively positiened andsecurely supported thereen While 'all'ewing-a maxi-11mm quantity fofsuchelements to beheic'i-thereby.

To these and other ends the invention con sists in the novel featuresand combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

1n the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an index or file, embodying mimprovements, showing the carriers hinged ly supported to swing asleaves; 1 Fig 2 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1; p

Fig. 3 is a side elevationor side face view of one of the carriers orleaves;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4: of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is'an enlarged view of the bottom portion of the side face of thecarrier shown in Fig.3;

Fig. 6 is a section on line'6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7--7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a section on line8-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 5, with a carrier having the positionof the retaining member changed and a modified form of an associatedpart;

Fig. 10 is a section on line 1010 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a side face view of a somewhat modified form of carrier,embodying certain features of this invention; I

Fig. .12 is a section on line 12-12 of Fig. 11, and

Fig. 13 is a detailed View of the form of index element adapted for usewith a carrier of the form illustratedf p F orthe purpose ofillustrating my invention, I have selected the general form of swingingleaf described in the patent to R. D. Hayes above referred to, and haveselected the form of index elementsused and described I In thisinstance,

' same beyond the frame into the form 0 arms 13 and 14, for the purposeabove noted.

in connection with that form of leaf and which are of the type shown anddescribed in the. patent to Irving Fisher, No. 1,048,056, datedDecember24, 1912.

The particular form of leaf illustrated is somewhat similar in structureto the one described in the patent to \Villiam H. Day, No. 1,446,839dated February 27, 1923, and in some aspects is an improvementthereover.

A plurality of leaves embodying the features of this invention is shownin Fig. 1, mounted'upon a supporting means comprising a rack 10, rovidedwith so-called upper and lower lJIEIC iKS 11 and 12, which are slidinglyengageable by certain portions of each leaf 15, in thisinstance, arms 13and 14, to swingingly support the same. The leaf 15 comprises aframework of wires or rods, bent into such form that arectangularly-shaped open frame is provided. the preferred form of frameis formed by bending the end portions 16 and 17 of a rod or wire 18 atright angles to the remaining portion 19 and terminating the Portions20and 21 of another wire or rod 22 the upper and lower are bent at rightangles to the remaining portion 23 thereof, and the end portions 24 and25 of this rod are bent, at right angles to the respective portions 20and 21. The end portions 24 and 25 extend toward each other and aresubstantially parallel with the portion 23. The rod 22, bent as above,is adapted to cooperate with the rod 18 to form the enclosed loopforming the open rectangularly-shaped frame by having the portions20 and-21close- 1y associated with portions 16 and 17 as shown in Fig. 3. T eend portions 24 and 25 are closely associated with the portion 19 of.the rod 18. The portions 20 and 21 and 16 and 17 are tied together, inthis instance, by means of the sleeves 26 which partially surround both,as shown in Fig. Likewise, the end portions 24 and 25 are tied to theportion 19 by similar sleeves 27 shown also in Fig. 8. By the aboveconstruction a very rigid frame structure is provided, the members ofwhich are securely fastened together in'such amanner that each componentbraces the other, both laterally and longi tudinally. I y r I A thinsheet of material 28, which to obtain the desirable lightness in weight,is preferably made' of aluminum, is secured between the components ofthe frame. The edges 29 and 30 of the sheet or base plate 28 are rolledoverthe wire or rod portions 20 and 21, and the edge 32 thereof isrolled over the wire or rod portion'23. The remaining edge 33 of thesheet ofmaterial 28 is rolled over the portion 19 of the wire or rod 18.These edges are'rolled over the wire or'rod at the above mentionedpoints in such a manner that the sheetor base-plate 31 lying between thevarious frame portions is in the plane of the horizontal center linesof'the wires or rods, '1

as clearly shown inFigs. 4, 6, 7 and 10, where by the wires or rods formwhat may be termed a head which surrounds the base-plate 31 at the outeredge thereof.

The portion of the head above mentioned, which is formed by the rodportion 19 at the front edge of the leaf is of especial utility inconnection with this invention, inasmuch as the. same forms a fingergrip for use in the manipulation of the, leaves to swing the same whenthey are mounted upon a sup ort or rack 10, or to draw them in and out oa cabinet when slidingly mounted in such a device.

The index elements or cards 34 are mounted upon the leaf by means of thecooperation of the oppositely and laterally directed tongueportions 35and 36thereof, with a retaining member 37, by engaging beneath theraisededge portions 38' and 39 thereof. The

proper cooperation-of thetongues 35 and 36 of the elements 34,:w1'th-these edge; flanges,

- thetongues are reversely extended relatively to the strip raisededges38 and39, inadirection toward each other. A reverse; order,-gof course,is possible.- Other tongue-portions 41 and 42 are provided in the ndexelements 34,

whereby each of the same nests with adjacent ones, as described in theabove-mentioned Fisher patent. Both s des of thebase plate are used tosupport card-s 34-a-nd for this-purpose two strips 37 are used, oneon'eachside of the base plat-e31, each of which are air rangedinbacl-:to-back relationand secured to thebase plate by the same'tu-biilarrivets.

" The retaining strip 37 preferably secured to] the base-plate 31,;slightly off the long-i tudinal center line "thereof; toward the rear edge,in order that a front edge margin- 43 will beprovided and that the indexelements mounted thereon will bespaced from the beaded front edge of,the leaf. The margin 43 cooperates with the beadedfront edge of V theleaf or frame to facilitate the use of the head as a fingengripbyspacingfthe same i from the adjacent side edges of the index elementsmounted thereon, and insures that the index eleinentswilil not be soiledor otherwise mutilated when the leaves are manipulated.

The above-mentioned cooperation bet-Ween the index elements 34am], theretaining strip 3Tis suchthat the-elements 84fare free to slidelongitudinally along, the strip 37" andbe guided in such movementthereby, due tothe engagement of the tongue portions 35 and 36 with theraised, edgeportions or flanges 38 and139Q Relative lateral movementbetween the! elements 34 andthest 3'l' isflp'revented the provision iofother cooperating portions of both. avmnmy: disposed edges 44 and 45 areprovided associated with the ele n1ents'34 whichengage against the outerfree up and over the'baseiportion v50,jforining'at thabwdse asupportingshoulder to engage" edges 46 mm? of the flangededge portionsand 3910f the strip '37,, when the elements are mounted thereon,and'prevent the-relative. lateral movement by such engagement; Inasmuchas the elements34 are capable of sliding movement along the retainingguide member 37, it is eesirable that provision: be made especiallyinileaves or panels adapted for use im vertical positiemto retain theindexfele ments against slippage downwardly and from the leaf"; For thispurpose, I} have selected a pair of members-or ears-48 and 49, thepreferred form of whichis shown in Figs. 3, 5, 6 and 7. The ear members48 -and 49 are 3reformed from a blank of-material, preferably metal,ELYlClQOHlPI'lSQS abase portion 50 adaptedto be suitablvsec uredfto theplatej3l, such as by means of eyelet-S 54. A

portion 52 of these ear membersis; turned the edgef54 ofthejlowe'rn'iost index element 4 of "a series, as shown in Figs 1,3, a11d{5',{the

index element 34 in Fig. 5'beingish0wn in dotted lines.

In order that a maximuninumber of index elements may be applied to andmounted the ears 48 and 49, or at least'the: supporting upon a leaf of agiven-size, it is desirable that portion 58 thereof, be located as nearthe 7 lower edge of the leaf as is. possible, while retaining theefiiciencyinthe use of the same. It is necessary that the lower-end 55of the indexelement retaining and guide member 37 be spaced 'fromitheextreme lower edge 56 of the leaf an amount sufi'icient to allow" tionbetween the element 34* and: the guide strip 87, wherebythese parts areprevented from laterally shifting relatively to reach other by means ofthe engagement of the vertically disposed edges 44"and 4510f the element with the edges 46 and 47' of the strip.

It is;of course,;iinportant that: this cooperation be continuedthroughout theaentire length of the str1pv37 and affect each of theindex elements of the series. The lowermost element, therefore, niust beso located with respect to the terminating point 59v of:

the edges46 and 47, of the strip; 37, that the vertical. edges 44 and 45thereof will at'a-ll The. vertical times be efficiently engaged. edges44-and45 are'predeterminably located inre's'pect' to. the marginal edge54 of the index element and for a certain type'and size ginal edge 5410fthe element in respecttozthe terminatin oin't 59 and the flan es that I21 p v a a proper engagement will i he 'maintalncd bespectivel-y. 1 Thisis accomplished properly locating the supporting shoulder formed by thebend 53 in the ears- 48 and 49,withkre spect 'to'the lower edge 55' ofthe retaining strip 3?; The supporting shoulder formed I; by the bend53', therefore,niustbespaced I from theterminating point 59. whichconsti-i was the effective end of the flanges .38and 39fla'n amountnot-sgreaterflthanthe vertical spacing-between the edges and 45 and the'Inarg'in 54 of theindexel'ement 34, i

of element are1-standardinthiszloeationr It is, therefore, necessary toso lee-ate the martween the edges 44 and 45, and 46 and '47, re F V v. VAs above mentioned, there is a coopera- Due to thefo'rn iof'supportingearfshown anddescribed above, being adapted for application tosurface: by means of the base 5O ,1t 1s ne'cessary, nordertosupportaseries of index elements on both sides of the'leaf, tosecure a pair of ears to each side thereof, as shown in Figs. Gand7.Figs.9 and 10 illustrate a somewhat modified form of element-supportingcars 60. In this form the base 50, above mentioned, is not required, asthe opposite ears upon both sides of the leaf are formed from the samepiece of material as shown in Fig. 10, and are connected by the portion61, which is wrapped about the base-plate edge 30. The portion 61substantially surround-s the wire or rod portion 21 and its surroundingbase-plate edge 30, and is crimped at 62 into more or less close contactwith the base-plate 31, adjacent this edge, whereby a shoulder 63 isformed which is analogous in use and construction to the supportingshoulderformed by the bend 53 above described,in connection with thecars 48 and 49.

Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate a leaf 70 wherein the frame portion 71 isformed of but one wire or rod and the front edge 72 of the baseplate 7 3is bent back upon itself to form a bead for the same use as abovedescribed. As shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11, an index element 74 maybe mounted upon a leaf in a somewhat similar manner, as previouslydescribed regarding element 34, with the exception that the retainingstrip 75is, in this instance, located at the longitudinal center of theleaf. In order to obtain the finger-gripping and element edge protectingspace 7 6,

the tongues 77 of the index element 74 are struck u out of the materialforming'the same'su ciently' off the longitudinal center thereof tocause the body of the element or card to assume a position oil thelongitudinal center of the leaf. 7

a What I claim is:

1. In an index or file, an index element carrier, comprising abase-plate, a frame surrounding and secured to said base-plate, andmeans associated with said base plate and index elements'to support.index elements of card-like form flatwise in overlapped-relae tion witha margin of each exposed to View upon. said plate, said means beingadapted to I retain said card-like elements off the longitudinal centerof said frame, whereby a longitudinally extending uncovered margin isformed along one of the longitudinal edges of said carrier as'and forthe purpose described.

2. In an index or file, an index element carrier, comprising abase-plate, a frame surroundinga'nd secured'to said base-plate, saidframe being adapted to present a headlike edge along at leastonelongitudinal edge of said carrier,and means associated with said baseplate and-index'elements to support index elements of card-like formflatwise 'n overlappedrelation with a margin of each exposed to viewupon said plate, said means being adapted to retain said card-likeelements ofi the longitudinal center of said point of said strip.

frame, whereby a longitudinally extending uncovered margin is formedalong and adja cent to the beaded edge of said carriers as and for thepurpose described.

3. In an index or file, anindex element carrier, comprising abase-plate, a frame sur-' rounding and secured to said base-plate, andan oppositely-directed-flanged index element holder secured to each faceof the base-plate,

each other, back to back, andsecuring means passing through thebase-plate and both of said holders. I

'5. In an index or file, an index element carrier provided with means tosupport a series of overlapping card-like index elements thereon, saidmeans comprising a strip having laterally directed flanges extendinglongitudinally of said carrier and terminating short of'one' endthereof, and an ear having a forwardly directedflange portion forming ashoulder to engage oneof said card-like ele ments to prevent thesamefrom disengagement with said strip.

6. In an index or file, an index element carrier of one of thetypes'described having a bead-likeflateral edge, and provided with asupporting strip for index elements of card-like form, said stripextending longitudinally along said carrier and terminating short ofsaid bead-like edge, and an index element edge engaging membercomprising a forwardly turned flange forming a shoulder secured to saidcarrier adjacent said beadlike edge and spaced below the terminatingfile, an index element carrier of one of the types described having a 7.In an index or thickened lateral edge and provided with a supportingstrip for index elements of cardlike form, said strip extendinglongitudiznally along said carrier and terminating short of said edge,an index element mounted upon said strip, said element being providedwith means to engage said strip, said means being spaced above a marginof said element, and means to support said element against slippage fromsaid strip including a forwardly directed shoulder located adjacent saidcarrier edge, said shoulder being spaced from the terminating point ofsaid strip an amount no greater than the amount said strip-engagingmeans of said element is spacedfrom the margin thereof to insure properengagement thereby with said strip.

8. In an index or file, an index element carrier of one of the typesdescribed, provided with a supporting strip for index elements ofcard-like form, said strip extending longitudinally along said carrierand terminating short of anedge of the same, an index elementmountedupon said strip, said element being provided with means to engagesaid strip, said means being spaced above a margin of said element, andmeans to support said element against slippage from said strip,including a forwardly directed shoulder, said shoulder being spaced fromthe terminating point of said strip an amount no greater than the amountsaid strip-engag 15 ing means of said element is spaced from the marginthereof to insure proper engagement thereby withsaid strip.

9. In an index or file, an index element carrier, comprising abase-plate, a frame surn rounding and secured to said baseplate, andmeans to support index elements of card-like form fiatwise in overlappedrelation with a margin of each exposed to view upon said plate, and withsaid elements disposed off the longitudinal center of said frame,whereby a longitudinally extending uncovered margin is provided alongone of the longitudinal edges of said carrier, as and for the purposedescribed. 3U In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 22day of July, 1925. 7

WILLIAM H. DAY.

